Assessment of the impact of climate change-induced beach erosion on the welfare of users and the local economy

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12596
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 80020:Tourism studies-related
• Research Institution: Sophia University (2020-2024); Konan University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Tsuge Takahiro 上智大学, 地球環境学研究科, 教授 (70363778)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 気候変動 / ビーチ / 観光行動 / 厚生 / 地域経済

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Beaches that attract large numbers of visitors are important tourist resources that support the local economy. However, erosion of beaches is becoming a worldwide problem due to climate change-induced sea level rise and other factors. Beach erosion may lead to a decline in visitor welfare and have negative impacts on the local economy due to reduced visitor numbers. In this study, we used Waikiki Beach in Hawaii as a case study to quantitatively evaluate the effects of beach erosion on visitor welfare and the local economy through original surveys and econometric analysis.

Free Research Field

環境経済学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

各地で養浜や防潮堤建設などのビーチ浸食対策が検討されているが、それらの是非を費用対効果の観点から判断するためには、ビーチの浸食が引き起こす被害、言い換えるとビーチの浸食を防ぐことの便益を把握する必要がある。本研究では、環境経済評価の手法を用いて、ビーチの幅に対する支払意志額（ビーチの幅の価値）や、ビーチの浸食がもたらすオアフ島の観光魅力度の低減分の貨幣評価額を推計した。これらの成果は、ビーチ浸食対策の費用対効果の評価に役立つものである。